Worshiping - Part One

Hebrews 4:14-16 “ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Our Friday evening small group Bible study has been looking into the Israelite tabernacle features and furnishing to see how everything was made according to the pattern of the true tabernacle in heaven, giving us a beautiful foreshadowing picture of the work of Jesus Christ, and how this relates to worshipping our Holy God, and how all this relates to us today. How the Temple priests mediated for the people between sinful man and God. Sin separates us from the presence of God, for His pure eyes cannot behold evil, and cannot tolerate wickedness - Habakkuk 1:13. How sacrifices had to be made of innocent animals that God would be satisfied, the atonement offering accepted, and man would be restored in his relationship with their Creator. The Hebrew word translated as atonement means “to cover”, not remove sin. The concept is of covering over our sin with the blood of a sacrifice. The wages (the consequential penalty & payment) of sin is death by God’s Law. Atonement was accomplished by offering a substitute payment for sin with the blood of blameless animals without blemish.

Hebrews 9:11-12, 25-26 “Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;  nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own.”

How a male without defect from the herd was offered on the Bronze Alter at the doorway to the tent of meeting that it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behave. How Aaron and his sons (the priests) washed their hands and feet on the Bronze Laver to be cleansed before entering the holy place and when they approach the alter to minister.

Psalm 24:3-4 says: “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully.” 1 John 1:9 tells us: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God always forgives the penitent, but the absence of true repentance will ultimately bring condemnation. The lesson asks an important question. Do we truly understand the holiness of God and the seriousness of our sin against Him – Psalm 51:4.

The lesson asks another good questions for us to think about and answer. Do you think you can worship God apart from being cleansed … clean? … washed in the blood of Jesus. The tabernacle was really pointing at the gospel message of Jesus - the Savior of the world. Understanding this, then we can start to grasp the scope of the fall of mankind and magnitude of God plan of salvation to redeem and restore us by the free gift of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross in our place and be the focus of our true worship every day. “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” - Revelation 5:12 - worthy of our worship!

In Christ, Brian